Roy and Kathy Sakuma have dedicated their life’s work to spreading the joy of the ukulele through lessons, festivals and community events since 1971.

It was Sakuma’s dream to present a free concert to show people that the ukulele could be played as a solo instrument of sophistication and virtuosity and not just a rhythm instrument for background music.

Today, the annual Ukulele Festival at Kapiolani Park Bandstand in Waikiki is now a summer tradition in Hawaii.

It has grown internationally and is by far the largest ukulele festival of its kind in the world, with crowds of thousands, guest artists from around the world and an ukulele orchestra of over 800 students, mostly children.

The 44th Annual Ukulele Festival will be held on Sunday, July 20 at Kapiolani Park Bandstand in Waikiki, starting at 11 a.m.